SAN FRANCISCO – If Steph Curry, after six bodily draining video games towards the Rockets, was nervous concerning the prospect of a win-or-go-home showdown in Houston following the Warriors’ 115-107 loss in Sport 6 on Friday, he didn’t present it.
As a substitute, in his trademark deadpan, the longer term Corridor of Famer emphasised that he and his veteran teammates had been in loads of high-pressure conditions earlier than.
Sport 7 in Houston with the season on the road Sunday?
Nothing the Warriors haven’t handled — and overcome — over the previous decade.
“If you don’t show up with that appropriate mentality, then we’re on vacation,” Curry stated after scoring 29 factors in Sport 6 whereas taking part in practically all the second half. “We want to be the team that’s packing for a week, getting on this plane to go to Texas and hopefully go to Minnesota right after that.”
The Warriors will play the Timberwolves within the second spherical in the event that they advance. The collection would open in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
“I can tell you our guys are going to be excited,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated. “As I said, I have every confidence that they can get this done.”
With Curry on the roster, Kerr has each proper to be assured whatever the group’s type the previous two video games.
The final time the Warriors performed in a Sport 7, two seasons in the past in Sacramento, Curry had an epic 50-point efficiency because the Warriors prevailed 120-100.
“We look to him to do something special every night for the last 13 years I’ve been here,” Draymond Inexperienced stated. “I don’t think it’s any different.”
Curry has had his share of different Sport 7 masterpieces whereas going 3-2 in such video games.
In a 2016 closeout victory over the Thunder within the Western Convention finals to cap off their very own comeback from down 3-1, Curry scored 36 factors and ended the Kevin Durant period in Oklahoma Metropolis. In fact, that yr was the final time the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead of their very own, infamously within the 2016 Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Curry additionally has crushed Houston in a Sport 7.
In the course of the 2018 Western Convention finals towards the James Harden-led Rockets, Curry barely missed out on a triple-double with 27 factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists because the Warriors received on the street 101-92.
Curry repeatedly emphasised that his Warriors teammates wanted to be aggressive when trying to rating towards the Rockets hard-nosed protection, but in addition acknowledged that one other 50-point scoring binge is perhaps wanted.
“That was just a great game overall,” Curry stated about his memorable Sport 7 towards the Kings. “Hopefully I can repeat that.”
Now 37, Curry’s well being – and the age of a few of his teammates — has been a constant speaking level all through the collection.
Curry’s proper thumb was just lately seen trying extra like a golf ball than a finger, and fatigue has appeared to sap a few of the effectiveness from his shot.
Earlier than dropping 29 factors on Friday, Curry had scored 17 after which 13 factors on iffy effectivity within the earlier two video games whereas fighting turnovers.
However he was adamant after the sport Friday that drained legs is not going to be an element towards a Rockets group that has vexed the Warriors with a zone.
“I actually feel great,” Curry stated. “You’re having to work. That’s fine. I think it’s weird, cause the zone, it doesn’t necessarily take the most out of you or demand the most physically.”
Curry acknowledged that Sport 7’s current one other degree of strain for gamers, however believed that introduced out the perfect in him.
“You understand the stakes. If you don’t play your best game or you don’t figure out a way to win, you’re going home,” Curry stated. “But it’s also exhilarating because when you do, it brings the best out of you.”
“There’s no better feeling than closing out a series with just the whole Game 7 vibe.”
